Historic Scotland is pleased to announce that Dryburgh Abbey has retained its five star VisitScotland rating. The Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme has been operating since 1995, and gives operators an independent quality assurance award and incorporates the inspection of properties for ‘Thistle’ tourist signposting.

Historic Scotland is delighted to announce the Free Weekend 2008 was a great success with over 75,000 people taking the opportunity to visit heritage attractions across Scotland without having to pay a single penny on 12 and 13 April.

Scotland's leading attraction celebrates completion of Â£2.7m improvement scheme. New flags have been hoisted at Edinburgh Castle to mark the raising of the standard of the visitor experience at Scotland’s premier attraction – achieved through a major investment programme to improve services and facilities for visitors.

One of Scotland’s most celebrated Neolithic sites is to commemorate a defining moment in the space race. The pathway to the Skara Brae prehistoric village, in Orkney, is lined with carved stones that form a time trail of major events in human history.